Telephone handset attachment



March 25, 1952 A. R. VOGEL 2,590,431

TELEPHONE HANDSET ATTACHMENT Filed Oct. 25, 1950 43V 44 INVENTOR. 2 73 Am B. 65-51.,

l atented Mar. 25 1952 p This invention; relates to an attachment for use on a hand..telephone, the .attachment being selectively adjustable so as, to more accurately direct voice waves into the transmitter and to selectively prevent thepassage of sound waves into the transmitter, thereby permitting the user of the telephone to listen to the receiver and upon desired occasion-to 'talk'to others without. having the users conversation picked up by the transmitten I 1 Heretofore numerous devices have been disclosed, said devices beingtermed silencers,f the primary purposes. of (the devices being topermit the user of. a-telephone to. speak thereinto without being cverheardlbyothers in his immediate vicinity. 'In addition, certain extraneous devices were proposed: for the purpose of shielding or silencingthe transmitter so .as to prevent sound from passinginto the transmitter. One such device-is illustrated-in Patent No. 2,484,450..

The present invention is directed to a simple, lightweight efficient device, capable of being readily attached to the mouthpiece or transmitter of a usual hand-type telephone, this device having a dual function in that it more accurately directs the voice waves into thetra-nsmitter, thereby. permitti-ng the transmission oftlow amplitude sounds and privacy, andin -addition the device-is selectivel-y-adjustable was to prevent passage of sound waves 'into the ,transmitter thereby allowing the j v v I user of the telephpnetolisten to the receiver and after, it'is only necessary torelease the lever from 'talk to others without. having the users conversation with such others'p'ickedup by the transmitter. v

The constructions embodying. the present in-.

vention-and described hereinafter permit the use of the-hand phone in the normal manner. The inventign doe not involve the use of extraneous objects or devices which are normally misplaced,

since they are not con'ne'cted to the hand phone. The present device doeslnot necessitate the use of greater desk's'pace forf the phone. The device is simply attached withoutthe'use of tools.

Generallystatedthe'device of the presentinvention',fliri its simplest embodiment, consists of a ber resembling'ascoopjand' provided with a skirt capable of resiliently, grasping the mouthpiece. Part of this semirsphericj' member is in the form of a. scoop-like lunefior 'iliiiedhood' tendingto guide the voic throu h' afiaperture in such mem-*-- r'flitteriof 'the telephone. Pivotpon' this virtually semi-spherical scoop-like ember is ajho11ow -m9vable hood for selective, slidableim overrient; over 4 the fixed hood '9 Claims. (01. 179-488) of the scoop-like member and over the port therein, thereby permitting selective closure of the port. In a modification of the present inventionthe selective movement of the hood is accomplished by means of a lever cooperating-with the handle of the hand phone, whereby manipulation ofv the lever with. a finger while holding the phone in'the position of use, selectively opens and closes the phone by imparting movement to h d In the :modifiediorm of the invention just referred to, the lever :is preferably spring-biased so that movable hood is continually urged into its closed position. During normal use of the telephone, the lever le -digitally held in position adjacent the handle "against the force of the spring, the movable hood then being open. -If during the conversation the user wishes the hood to 'be closed, thereby efiectively silencing the transmitter, hemay release his fingers from the lever thus' allowing the lever to move outwardly away from thehandle and permitting the spring to close the hood. Ifitfis desired that the hood remain open throughout aconversation, the lever may be pressed firmly against the handle of the telephone handset intermediate the receiver and transmitter, and means are provided onthe lever for-engaging the longitudinal grooves normally formed in thehandlje portion of the handset. Tq'resltore the device-to selective operation thereits engagement with the indentations. The lever is'so forme'd 'as not to interfere with the handset when thetel'ephone is not in use and is resting upon the support conventionally provided.

' -An object of this invention is, therefore, to provide a novel attachment for selectively silencing the transmitterof a telephone. v i g Another object of the invention is to disclose such a "device in'cluding 'means for channeling desired'soundwaves into the transmitter of the telephone and; simultaneously restricting the passage-of undesired sound. waves thereinto.

-A further ob ject is to disclose such a device 5 which m'ay' 'be' attached to a conventional telehollow, virtually semi-spherical directional mem phone handset-without increasing the amount of 'Ihe'se and allied objects and purposes of the 5 invention will teeem c ealfrom a-st y of the Fig. 5 is a sectional view taken on line V-V of Fig. 4.

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary view of the device shown in Fig. 4, the movable hood being in closed position.

Fig. 7 is a sectional view taken on line VII- VII of Fig. 4. p T

Fig. 8 is a sectional view taken on line VIII- VIII of Fig. 4.

Fig. 9 is, an enlarged fragmentary sectional view of my device, taken on line IX-IX of Fig. I. 1

Referring now in detail to Fig. 1, a conventional telephone handset is indicated generally at III and includes receiver II and transmitter I2 joined by an integrally formed handle I3. Transmitter I 2 includes a circular cap or mouthpiece IB which is connectable by threaded engagement with the body portion of transmitter I2. A member indicated generally at I8 is provided with a circular skirt I9 arranged to encircle and frictionally grasp the cap I6. The circumference of mouthpiece I6 tapers very slightly, as indicated at I5, and the skirt I9 is preferably made of material having a small resiliency, whereby skirt I9 grasps mouthgie e I 8 securely to prevent accidental dislodgement of the device from the mouthpiece, at the same time permitting manualremoval of the attachment when desired. 7 p

I The member I8 also includes a fixed hood 2| resembling a scoop and extending across the lower portion of transmitter I2 and spaced therefrom, the major portion of member I8 being open and constituting a port giving external sound waves access to transmitter I2. Member I8 'is also provided with a pair of diametrically opposite ears or lugs 22 and 23, and the ears carry outwardly projecting pivot pins 24 and 25 respectively. A movable hood, indicated generally at 21, includes holes 24' and 25' in which pivot pins 24 and 25 are respectively journaled.

Fixed hood ,2I and movable hood 21 are each preferably formed as portions of the surface of spheres, fixed hood 2| having an outer radius very slightly smaller than the inner radius of movable hood 21. Movable hood 2! includes at its upper end a projecting ear or boss 28.

It will be seen by reference to Figs. 1, 2 and 3 that movable hood 2'! may be selectivelydisposed in either of two positions. When disposed as shown in Fig. 1, access of external sound waves to the transmitter I2 is substantially unrestricted, whereas the position of movable hood 21 shown in Fig. 3 effectively-silences the transmitter I2 since sound waves are prevented from impinging the operative elements (not shown) of transmitter I 2. The projecting ear or boss 28- is easily engaged with the tip of a finger for flipping movable hood 2! into either its open or closed position. Moreover, it will be noted by reference to Fig. 1 that sound waves originating from the position of the mouth of the user (schematically indicated at 3|) will be effectively channeled into transmitter I2, the fixed hood 2I and movable hood 2! exhibiting their concave surfaces to sound waves thus propagated. On the other hand, it will be noted that sound waves originating from sources removed from point 3| will in greater or lesser degree impinge the outer convex surface of movable hood 21 and will be thereby deflected away from transmitter I 2. Thus-when movable hood 21 is in its open position as in Fig. 1, the volume of the users voice may be appreciably lower than would otherwise be necessary to achieve satisfactory electrical transmission of his voice, and at the same time the effect of external sources of sound other than the users voice is substantially diminished. With the movable hood 2? in its closed position, as in Fig. 3, a continuous convex substantially hemispherical surface is presented to all external sound, thus virtually eliminating the entry of any sound waves into transmitter I2.

In order to insure a snug fit between mouthpiece IB and circular skirt I9 of directional member I8, I preferably provide on said skirt a plurality of circumferentially spaced, inwardly projecting ears or fins 20. These ears or fins are made of material having somewhat greater resiliency than the relatively less resilient material used in making skirt I9, and are permanently fixed to said skirt as by being integrally molded therewith or by other suitable means. Ears 20 are preferably provided with tapered sides 20, the inner end of each ear 20 being somewhat narrower than the base thereof as appears in Fig. 9. Circular skirt is thereby retained in correct position relative to mouthpiece I6, and may be removed therefrom easily and quickly when desired, by reason of the resiliency of ears 2!].

Although I have shown and described in detail a movable hood 21 which is pivotable relative to the stationary directional member I8, it will be immediately evident that said movable hood can be made to be rotatable relative to directional member I8. Thus the outer circumferential wall of circular skirt I9 may be provided with ,a circumferential groove extending therearound, and movable hood 21, instead of being pivotally connected to the directional member I8, may be provided with a fiange partially or completely encircling circular skirt I9, said flange including an inwardly extending continuous lip or a plurality of spaced lugs slidably engaging the groove in the circular skirt.

For addedconvenience in use, I may provide additional elements shown in Figs. 4, 5, 6, 7 and 8. In common with the embodiment of my invention previously described, the modified device includes directional element I8, skirt I9, fixed hood 2I and movable hood 2I. Directional member I8 in this embodiment includes arms 38 and 31 extending appreciably farther alongside transmitter I2 than ears 22 and 23 previously described. Arms 36 and 31 are provided with holes 38' and 39' in which are journaled pivot pins 38 and 39 respectively. An operating lever indicated generally at 41 includes a pair of arms 42 and 43 extending substantially parallel to the handle I3 of handset I0 and 'lying on either side of said handle. Arms 42 and 43 terminate at pair of toothed hubs '4 and 55, said hubs meshing with the respective segments of gears 52 and'53.

'It can. now be seen that movement of operating lever 4| from the position shown in Fig. 4 to the position shown in Fig. 6 will cause movable hood 21 to be moved from its'open position to its closed position.

I preferably include a pair'of spring members 58 and 59 associated with pivot pins 38 and 39 respectively arranged to urge lever 4i and movable hood 21 into the position shown in Fig. 6. Arms 42 and 43 include integrally formed inward- 1y extending flanges or lugs 62 and 63 respectively. One end of spring members 58 and 59 bears against the respective flanges 62 and 63 and the other end of spring members 58 and 59- engages the inner end of arms 36 and 3? respectively. The spring members are tensioned to urgelever 4| in a clockwise direction as viewed in Figs. 4 and 6.

In normal use of the attachment shown in Fig. 4, the users fingers encircle handle 13, and releasing the one or two fingers contacting bridge member 46 permits spring members 58 and 59 to move the parts to the position of Fig. 6, as above set forth. It may on occasion be desired to retain the parts in the position of Fig. i even when the fingers are released, and to accomplish this, means are provided for selectively retaining lever 4! adjacent handle is. The OOH". ventional handset I0 is provided with a pair of longitudinal grooves or channels '52 and 13 ex;- tending adjacent the inner surface of handle [3. Grooves l2 and 13' are normally U-shaped insection, as best appears in Figs. '7 and 8, and I provide complementary ribs '84 and 15 on the inner surfaces of enlarged portions 44 and 45 of lever-4| for engaging the respective grooves 12 and 13. Normally ribs 74 and 15 do not engage the; grooves, but the slight resiliency of the enlarged portions 44 and 45 permits a small force applied to bridge member 455 to move the parts into the position of'Fig. '7. A small force in the opposite direction applied against lever 4! moves thelever rightwardly as viewed in Figs. 4 and 7.and restores the lever to normal digital operation.

It will be noted that the pivot points of movablehood 21 are set inwardly from the plane of the face of cap or mouthpiece 16, said pivot points being located at poles of a great circle of a sphere of which movable hood 21 is a portion. Furthermore, directional member is is resiliently attached to mouthpiece it along a small'circle of the sphere of which fixed hood 2! is a portion. Thusthe mouthpiece is completely covered-when the parts are in the position of Fig.3 or Fig.6, thereby effectively blocking external sound waves from access to transmitter l2 and silencing the instrument.

Thus I have provided a reliable, simple attachment for telephone handsets having no interference with the electrical connections thereof. When the movable hood is open, the users voice is more effectively channeled into the transmitter and unwanted external noises are diminished' With the movable hood closed, the transmitter is'effectively silenced. The slight e resiliency of the material of which the attachment is made permits the device to be-manually attached to or detached from an instrument.

I prefer .to form the several elements of the device of an organic condensation or polymerization product of thermoplastic or thermo-setting characteristics having suitable strength inmolded or cast form. "I may include plasticizers, finely divided fillers, reenforcing agents, pigmenting materials, etc. Phenol-formaldehyde resins, polyvinyl compounds and styrene resins are examples of suitable materials. 7, V

It will be immediately evidentto those skilled in the art that modifications and; changes -may be made from the specific forms shown and described hereinabove without departing from the spirit of the invention. All such modifications and changes are intended to be'included in, the scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. An attachment for hand telephones comprising: a hollow, virtually semi-spherical scooplike member including a lune, a port adjacent thereto and provided with a skirt terminating in claim 1 whereinthe outer radius of the semispherical direction member is slightly smaller than the inner radius of said movable hood, and said-lune and movable hood are concentric.

3 An attachment for a telephone handset having a transmitter, a receiver and a handle joining said transmitter and receiver comprising: a scoop-like member frictionally engageable with said transmitter, including a fixed hood extending across a portion of said transmitter and spaced therefrom and a port adjacent said fixed hood and extending across the remaining portion ofthe transmitter, said fixed hood constituting a portion of a sphere; a movable hood overlying said fixed hood and constituting a portion of a sphere having a radius slightly greater than 'the'radius of the first named sphere, said spheres having a common center; and a pivotal .connection between said movable hood and said scoop-like member whereby said movable hood is enabled to swing acrossand close said port.

4. An attachment as stated in claim 3 including a lever rotatably carried by said scoop-like member at a point spaced from said pivotal connection and means for transmitting rotational motion of said lever to said movable hood.

5. An attachment of stated in claim 4 including a spring member urging said movable hood into closed position.

6. An attachment for a telephone handset having a transmitter,-a receiver and a handle joining said transmitter and receiver comprising: a scoop-like member including a fixed hood attachable to said transmitter, said fixed hood having the shape of a spherical lune overlying a portion of said transmitter; a movable hood pivotally connected to said scoop-like member, said movable hood having the shape of a spherical lune of slightly larger radius than the first named spherical lune, said spherical lunes being concentric; a lever pivotally carried by said scooplike member having a pair of arms arranged to partially embrace and selectively grasp said handle; and means associating said lever and movable hood whereby movement of the lever causes rotati'on'of said movable hood about its point of pivotal connection.

7. An attachment as stated in claim 6 wherein said arms include inwardly extending ribs selectively engageable with the handle of said handset.

8. An attachment as stated in claim'6 including a spring member carried by the'point of pivotal connection between said lever and said scoop-like member arranged to urge said lever away from said handle.

9. An attachment for a telephone handset having a transmitter, a receiver and a handle joining said transmitter and receiver comprising: a scoop-like member frictionally engageable with said transmitter, including a fixed hood extending across a portion of said transmitter and 8 spaced therefrom and a port adjacent said fixed hood and extending across the remaining portion of the transmitter; and a second hood movably attached to said scoop-like member and arranged to be selectively positioned to either close said port or to be disposed in nesting relation with said fixed hood.

ALVIN R. VOGEL.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

. UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,136,283 Smith Apr. 20, 1951 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 257,585 Italy Mar. 10, 1928 

